"I want to go to school, Dad!" She cried, throwing up her arms in frustration. "It's not that big of a deal. I just want to hang around with humans, go to class, to be at least semi-normal for once! Why can't you let me have that?"

"Because it is too dangerous." He growled back, his light dimming as he fed from her emotions, her anger and betrayal never having a good effect on any angels around her. His eyes were two pools of endless black, his own stubborn resolve the only thing that shone in the usually starry onyx.

"It's school not some hang-out for bloodthirsty Betrayers!" Zailiel snapped, her arms firmly crossed over her chest and sunset eyes narrowed in agitation.

His shoulder's tensed, his wings spread the length of the room, "And that proves how naïve you are." he said softly but he did not need to yell the words to make her blanch. "You are too young, Zailiel. I will not have you putting yourself in danger over something as inconsequential as school."

Now flaring with anger she ripped the delicate oval locket from around her neck where it had been since she was three, throwing it at him. "Young? I'm too young?" She yelled, "Mom was only a few years older than me when you Fell for her and she made the choice to follow you and love you and you never for a second thought that she was too young to make that decision for herself!" The floor beneath them shook, the lights flickered and plaster fell from the ceiling as a result of the emotion bubbling out of her.

Her father whirled to face her, crossing the space between them in a second, "And look what came of your mother!" he roared, sparks jumping from him as he struggled to keep hold of his power. "She is dead, Zailiel. She is dead because of what I forced on her and I will not have the same thing happening to you!"

Tears burned at her eyes at the rare sight of her father's pain. He never let her see him when he lost control, he was always cool and collected, even when faced with Betrayers yet one mention of her mothers and he crumbled before her. "Nothing will happen to me, Da." She whispered, her anger replaced by the aching need to comfort her father and go and see her mother. Unable for the moment to indulge in the second she wrapped her arms around her father, enveloping herself in the safety of the arms that had always protected her.

He held her tight as if that alone could keep her from harm and whispered into her hair, "You do not know how hard it is, Zaza." He pulled away to look her in the eye, "Humans…they pull you in without even realising it. They bring out things in you that you did not know existed and that will put you in danger. For a kind so truly oblivious to what goes on around them they hold extraordinary power." He gave her shoulders a squeeze, "Their naïveté is their greatest weakness. Growing close to them will make them an easy target, something that the Betrayers will use against you without a second thought. I cannot protect everyone, Angel, no matter how much I wish I could. Maybe in a few years you can be free to do as you wish but for now…I can't waste time trying to protect humans who do not even understand who the true enemy is and it would not be fare to involve them." He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead before sweeping out of the room.

Zailiel didn't move for a long moment, unsure what to make of what her father had said. She reached up to fiddle with the locket only to remember that pulled it off. Panic rising she rushed to the window where he had been standing, searching desperately for the locket. The breath whooshed out of her when she found it hiding under the curtains, the metal thankfully undamaged. She slid it off of the now useless silver chain and cradled it in her palm. "What now?" She sighed, leaning her back against the window. Filled with the need to escape, even for a few hours she dug around in the desk until she located a piece of paper and scribbled a quick note.

Gone to see mom, be back soon.

Zaza

xXx

Hell hadn't changed at all since her last visit. The halls were still the same pitch black stone buffed until it shone; the floor the same grey-lined white marble and the sconces set periodically into the rock were the usual Fallen Angel carrying the weight of Heaven on its back in the form of a flaming cross.

"And what are you doing back so soon, child?" A familiar and unwelcome voice hummed right by her ear but she had learned years ago not to react to the sudden appearances of the Demons. Especially Asmodeus, the temperamental right hand of Lucifer was constantly going out of his way to creep her out.

"Oh you know, just came to check out the scenery, Hell's beautiful this time of year." Zailiel responded boredly, completely ignoring the Demon behind her even as he followed her through the maze that would lead to Lucifer's quarters.

"Ah, you are not seeing eye to eye with the wretch you call a father." He chuckled, a teeth grinding sound that made Zaza want to wince but she bit it back.

"Is there any particular reason why you're still here Asmodeus? Or are you just so in complete awe of me that you can't tear yourself away?" she taunted, enjoying the hissing sound he released.

"Hardly. You may distantly share blood with my King but that does not make you worthy of Hell."

She rolled her eyes in response even though she knew he couldn't see. Demons, why must they be such asses? "If you hate me so much then leave." She dismissed but still he lingered.

"You are dismissed, Asmodeus." The silky smooth command echoed down the hall from ahead where a door had opened, the golden light spilling into the gloomy passage.

With a gruff "As you wish." the Demon skulked off back the way he came, his footsteps silent.

"He does ask an interesting question, my little fire. What brings you back so soon?" Lucifer enquires, opening the thick wooden door engraved from top to bottom with tantalising swirls to allow her entry into his library.

"I was hoping to see my mom." Zailiel admitted, sitting in her usual spot next to the fire burning bright in the hearth. The plush red chair welcomed her happily, her wings settling easily into the design that ensured it wasn't uncomfortable. Lucifer relaxed into the matching chair across from her, one brow arched in question.

"Was Asmodeus wrong in his observation?" he pressed, leaning forward. His flaming wings spread out slightly as he did so, draping gracefully over his white-clothed back.

Sighing in defeat Zaza shook her head, "No, he was right. Not about my father being a wretch, but the other part."

"You have been visiting her more often lately." He noted, "As much as I believe she is pleased by this I know she is beginning to wonder why."

Feeling even more like a child Zailiel couldn't meet the flaming orbs that were Lucifer's eyes. Some had compared her own to them though hers were more of a deep sunset than a live fire.

"What is it child?" Lucifer rested a hand on her own where they sat clasped in her lap.

"Just that." She admitted, "Da believes I am nothing more than a child who cannot make decisions without his own personal input."

Lucifer let out a honey coated chuckle which she knew was the complete opposite of what one would hear when confronted with him on the mortal plane. Of course, she'd never spoken to him out of Hell so she would not know but from what she had heard he was quite the nightmare when out of his kingdom.

"In the mortal world you are far passed a child, Zailiel, but you do not live in the mortal world. I do believe you are perfectly able to make your own choices but you must also accept the fact that we are at war and there are things you are yet to understand. As much as it chagrins me to admit this I must side with Sandalphon. He is simply trying to protect you. Enough chat. Come, I will take you to your mother." Lucifer picked up a beautiful crystal decanter from the side table and approached the hearth.

"Thank you." She stood before the hearth, waiting for Lucifer's signal before she stepped into the blazing inferno which instantly consumed her.

so...first chapter...what do you think? I know it's short, sorry about that... but it's a tester to see if anyone likes where i'm going with this. i hope you do, lol! If you do, please review and let me know!

If you haven't read Fallen For You and are just jumping straight into this one...not a good idea, like serious no no cause the fact is i'm using the same terminology, characters and carrying on the plot from FFY and I won't be doing much reexplaining about FFY unless necessary. so, go read FFY if you haven't already and if you have but ages ago i recommend rereading it and letting me know if there's stuff you don't get.

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